A half-dozen residents were left homeless and over 15 cats are unaccounted for after a fire broke out overnight and caused damage throughout an apartment building in Woodstock, fire officials said.
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded around 1:01 a.m. Wednesday to the 600 block of Clay Street in Woodstock for a report of a structure fire.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said fire crews arrived and located a two-story, older wood-frame home with heavy fire showing from the second-floor windows.
An occupant had noticed the fire and then began notifying the other occupants in the building before the fire department arrived.
Vucha said firefighters stretched multiple hose lines and made entry to the four-unit apartment building.
They encountered heavily cluttered conditions and a narrow staircase that limited access as they attempted to reach the fire in an upstairs apartment.
Water was on the fire within minutes of arrival despite the conditions, Vucha said.
The incident was upgraded through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) to the box alarm level to bring additional personnel to the scene due to heavy fire conditions and unknown extension throughout the building.
Fire departments were also requested to cover Woodstock’s fire stations for any additional emergency calls in the area.
Firefighters operated on the roof — performing vertical ventilation due to fire involvement in the attic space — and other crews continued to work to extinguish the fire inside, Vucha said.
The building contained four individual apartments and all occupants were able to safely exit prior to the arrival of responders.
Vucha said the bulk of the fire was contained to the upper front apartment and the contents of that unit are considered a complete loss.
Smoke and water damage extended throughout the remainder of the building. Some items in the other apartments were able to be salvaged.
More than 15 cats are reported to be unaccounted for in the apartment where the fire originated, Vucha said.
The American Red Cross was requested to assist six displaced residents. Firefighters remained at the scene until shortly after 4 a.m.
“The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District would like to thank all responding agencies, both on scene and those providing change of quarters coverage, along with the Woodstock Police Department and our dispatchers for their assistance during the incident,” the fire district said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District.